By WAYLON GALVEZ
Mayor Isko Moreno wants the country’s capital city to become also the water polo capital.
Out to boost the city’s sports programs, Moreno is entertaining the idea of making Manila as the main hub of water polo activities.
He said this during the launching of the city government’s vaccination program against COVID-19 disease for its residents.
According to former water polo national team stalwart and Moreno’s good friend Dale Evangelista, Manila is hoping to provide support to the sport.
“That’s what Mayor Isko mentioned, he wants Manila to be the water polo capital,” said Evangelista, now a member of the Philippine Water Polo coaching staff together with head coach Reynaldo Galang.
“In other countries they have water polo capitals, like in Japan they have the province of Kashiwazaki, and then in Spain they have Barcelona. Mayor Isko wants to have that same distinction for the City of Manila.”
From their initial discussion, Evangelista said they have already identified some aquatic facilities in the city, and that the development program will be for the six districts of Manila.
Evangelista said that District 1 has the Tondo Sports Complex and Vitas Aquatic Center, while District 2 has the Patricia Sports Complex, the Andalucia Sports Center in San Lazaro for District 3 and the Dapitan Sports Complex for District 4.
Venues are still being finalized for districts 5 and 6, although the Aquatic Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz is an option since it is also a possible venue once competition begins.
